Tityus pachyurus explained

Tityus pachyurus is a species of arachnid endemic to Central America and South America.

Characteristics

Tityus pachyurus can grow from 6 to 9 cm in length, its pedipalps are reddish, while the fourth and fifth segments of the post-abdomen are dark and thicker, and feeding is based on larvae of beetles (tenebrians) and cockroaches.^[1] this species occurs in Central America (Costa Rica and Panama) and in South America (Colombia), in Colombia this species occurs in the departments of Antioquia and Chocó. It is found mainly in tropical forests, urban regions and places with high tourist and industrial activity. like many scorpions, it's nocturnal.^[2]

Medical significance

It is the species responsible for the most serious accidents involving scorpions in Central America and Colombia, including children. In Colombia, we report a case of a 12-year-old boy, stung in the thigh, the victim had a lot of pain at the site, and the case quickly progressed to systemic effects, with myocardial dysfunction, cardiovascular collapse, cardiac arrest and pulmonary edema.^[3] This species has a median lethal dose of 4.8 mg / kg.^[1]

Its venom is considered one of the most toxic, and responsible for the highest percentage of scorpion sting patient adimission to hospitals in Colombia. Envenomation by this species can present symptoms such as tachycardia, diaphoresis, tachypnea, cyanosis, hypertension and bradycardia. In cardiovascular compromise, and cardiac arrest and pulseless ventricular tachycardia are also present.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Barona . Jacqueline . Otero . Rafael . Núñez . Vitelbina . Toxicological and immunological aspects of scorpion venom (Tytius pachyurus): neutralizing capacity of antivenoms produced in Latin America . Biomédica . March 2004 . 24 . 1 . 42–49 . 10.7705/biomedica.v24i1.1247 . 15239600 . free .
2. Borges . A. . Miranda . R. J. . Pascale . J. M. . Scorpionism in Central America, with special reference to the case of Panama . Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases . 2012 . 18 . 2 . 130–143 . 10.1590/S1678-91992012000200002 . free .
3. Izquierdo . Ledys María . Rodríguez Buitrago . Javier R. . Cardiovascular dysfunction and pulmonary edema secondary to severe envenoming by Tityus pachyurus sting. Case report . Toxicon . 15 September 2012 . 60 . 4 . 603–606 . 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.05.021 . 22683677 .
4. Solano-Godoy . Jennifer Alexandra . González-Gómez . Julio César . Torres-Bonilla . Kristian A. . Floriano . Rafael Stuani . Miguel . Ananda T. Santa Fé . Murillo-Arango . Walter . Solano-Godoy . Jennifer Alexandra . González-Gómez . Julio César . Torres-Bonilla . Kristian A. . Floriano . Rafael Stuani . Miguel . Ananda T. Santa Fé . 2021 . Comparison of biological activities of Tityus pachyurus venom from two Colombian regions . Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases . en . 27 . e20210005 . 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2021-0005 . 34925479 . 8651215 . 1678-9199.